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Tuesday, December 27, 2011

I can not believe how time flies and how busy life has had me! It really has been such a crazy time, but hopefully that is beginning to change Our church is getting ready to do something called “A Year Through the Bible” where we all read the entire Bible together! I am so excited and ready to listen and hear what God might have to say as I try to be more intentional about being still and listening!

This Christmas has been fun, and I have loved every minute of being with family and friends, but I have also worked quite a bit and that just makes it hard to get everything done and be still, too!

A few high lights of Christmas! (I wish I had pics of everything!)

* The family getting together to celebrate with “only a few gifts” only to find out that that we are getting NEW HARDWOODS FLOORS in our downstairs! I almost died!

*A fun friend celebration at one of our favorite local restaurants! We exchanged gifts and laughed so hard! I loved it!

*Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services that were just full of worship! Oh how I loved having Christmas on Sunday!

I pray that each of you have a WONDERFUL New Year! I ‘d love to slow down and blog more and just be. It’s what I am praying for!

Saturday, August 6, 2011

A few weeks ago our girly went to spend time with my parents while I got to attend the Beth Moore Conference and hang out with my girlfriends! (I had such a great time that it needs to be a whole other blog post! FOR REAL! How amazing is our God!?!?)

Before leaving for the grandparent’s house of spoildom there were 2 weeks of WAR at my house! Little girl had decided that, at 10 years old, she knew best and that she was in charge! Oh. My. Heavenly. Days. Is ALL I’m gonna say. I had completely HAD IT and I was ready to ship her off on the next train if that was what it took for my sanity to be restored!

So.. I took her to meet my dad in a town that is almost halfway between here and there and I was ELATED to have time to myself without the talking back and smart attitude. I stopped and shopped for a bit… listened to music that I wanted to hear in the car… just felt a little freedom was a GREAT thing! I just felt like a ton had been lifted off of me and I was FREE!

Later that day the Lord did something that I knew was a reminder straight from Him! I met a lady who was so precious and sweet and just as cute as could be. We struck up a conversation about church and she started telling me of her daughter and how they’d been to church together and how she loved to praise the Lord. She talked about worship and how her daughter worshiped with great abandon and how wonderful it was!

I shared with her that I was so excited to be going to the Beth Moore Conference and that I, too, loved Jesus and MAN was I happy to have some time away from my child! Just for a weekend!!

Then she said it,

“Well, My daughter died a year and a half ago from brain cancer. She was only 21.”

As she told me some of the details of her last days and how the Lord had used her to bring others to Him I just stood there and began to cry! My attitude had been just as bad as my 10 year olds, and while it was good to have the break, I knew in my heart that something in me had shifted. I was no longer grateful for the gift that God had given me. I was aggravated and irritated with her childish ways and I was SOO focused on me!

“I’d do anything to have just a little more time with my daughter .”she said. “Sick or not… I would not care! I would just love to hug her and hear her voice again.”

God, in His infinite wisdom, knows that I am so selfish. He knows that I am so easily distracted by my own desires and that I get my eyes on myself to a fault sometimes. This lady had no idea how my attitude had been over the past couple of weeks and what a terrible time we’d had recently. She was just sharing and the Lord was just working on me… well, like taking me out behind the shed for a little “talk”!

I got in my car and cried a little more. I was just amazed that God had chosen on THAT day to let me meet such a Godly and loving lady and that her story was what I needed to get my priorities back in order.

Now, don’t get me wrong. That time away was ALSO something that God used to help me be refreshed and restored. I STILL NEEDED IT! I do not regret the time that she had with the grandparents and that I had with my husband and friends that weekend. My family had fun with my girl and it was good for everyone, but that story… that story of loss and love and gratitude and gratefulness and hurt and joy and sadness were all used to help me be reminded that every person in our lives is a gift from the Lord!! We do not have them forever and we should be so incredibly thankful for every minute that we have with them.

I just love how God works. He is more amazing to me every day. I pray that today you are loving those that He has blessed you with and that you don’t take one single minute for granted.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

At the end of the spring/beginning of summer my little girly went to spend some time with my parents. I was so excited because my man and I had planned to go on a MUCH NEEDED date night and he had said that he’d take care of the plans. As I arrived back into town he called me and said for me to meet him at an old theater here in town for a newly released movie that he was SURE I would love!

BLESS HIS BABY HEART! He has been a student of his wife for 15 years (almost!) and knew that I loved period pieces like Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, etc.! I was SOO excited to drive up to the theater to see this:

The movie ad for Jane Eyre! along with a line of eager and excited WOMEN waiting in line to buy the tickets. We walked in and sure enough… there might have been 5 other men in the theater.. the rest were excited, bathroom waiting, popcorn wielding, chitter chattering women in every seat! (Well, those still waiting in line at the potty were not in their seats yet, but they were all talking about how excited they were while they were in line!)

I LOVED THE MOVIE! He scored big brownie points that night!

Well, I decided to see about reading the book and much to my surprise there is a FREE DOWNLOAD on Kindle for many classic titles! I WAS BESIDE MYSELF!

So, I am currently reading Jane Eyre and can hardly get anything done for having my Kindle plastered to my face!

Though Jane was reared without much of a family tie she became educated and independent is amazingly confident and just a tough old girl! Perhaps I’ll do a book review! Ha! What do I know about reviewing books?

Well, I guess I lied! In my last post I said that I was going to be better about posting and here it is, almost exactly a month later, and I am just sitting down Honestly, I am good with it. I have been trying to keep one little girl kind of busy this summer and not in front of the T.V. so we’ve been on the go! Well, as on the go as you can be without vacation plans! It has been amazing to me how quickly the time has passed and we’ve been right here the whole time!

One thing that has kept me a little busy has been this Bible study.

It has been such a good time in God’s Word and the study really has dealt with some very real issues for women. It is very relationship oriented so there were many times that the ladies that participated would share that the Lord was really speaking to their friendships or family relationships in a wonderful way! I am very thankful for the time spent with the women and with the Lord as we studied 2Samuel.

God is really working in the lives of so many at our church and we are just sitting on the edge of our seats as we wait on the Lord to show us the next steps in some efforts to reach out to our community. I am so eager to see how God works and can’t wait to share things as they unfold. Just asking God to work and then hanging on has been the most awesome sense of excitement for us lately!

To keep the little girly busy we’ve been doing SCHOOL! She loves to read and she found out last year that she loves science so we have been talking about the life cycle of a plant and habitats! She has loved it all!! Trying to keep her from falling too far behind in the areas of math and reading are really important because we DO NOT need to lose ground! She has enough struggles without us going backwards so we have also continued to go to speech and to do occupational therapy during the summer. If we are going to be here we might as well make the most of it!!

With the funds being a little tight we’ve tried to get creative so that our family can have a little fun, too! Last weekend our friends kept little girly so that we could go on a date. I packed a picnic basket and called my hubby. I asked him to meet me at our first date spot where we sat under an overhang in the rain (very romantic!) and had a sweet little picnic together! MAN DID WE NEED THAT!? Sometimes we just let life keep us busy and we don’t slow down to spend time together. I was so thankful that the Lord provided a sweet time for the two of us and friends to keep the kid! He is so faithful!

Monday, June 13, 2011

Blawgin’ Friends! How I’ve missed you!!!! Man, life got CRAZY busy and I”ve hardly sat at the computer long enough to check e-mails! (I don’t have a smart phone so we do things the old fashioned way around here!) I did check my friend’s blog one day and she had done a recap in numbers, which I thought was very efficient and creative, so I’m gonna do the same!

72 is the number of children that participated in my first ever pre-school and day care graduation! The theme was “All Aboard with Jesus” and we had real train signs on stage:

The kids were super cute in their railroad hats and bandanas and my very own daddy came and played the banjo while the kids sang. A great time was had by kids, teachers and parents and this was ONE happy Pre-school music teacher when it was all over!!

10! is the number of years that we celebrated that very same weekend as our little girl rolled into the double digits! Well, she’s not so little anymore, but I suppose she will always be little to me.

Everything was pink and yellow (right down to the bathing suit!) for her swim party! She had a few friends from church and school and family that came! She had a ball!

968 is the number of calories that I have burned since starting a new nutrition and fitness logging system on www.sparkpeople.com. and ZERO is the amount that I have paid for it!! The pounds are not just falling off, but I do feel so much better and my clothes are feeling better so I am not giving up!! I have lost a few pounds and have a long way to go, but I am LEARNING and that is almost as valuable!!

2 is the number of projects that I have completed since I wrote about my shopping spree with my sweet sister-in-law. I like how the silver platters look with a painting that my brother did above my kitchen cabinets.

And I really like how this table turned out once I added a few touches…

One is the number of girls who finished 2nd grade in my house. It is the number of kids that I am proud to say has grown so much this year. She is doing math and reading and she loves God’s Word.

There are still struggles and some things that we plan to explore this summer to help us better understand her needs. She is learning that life is hers for the living and that sometimes real friends are hard to come by, but when you find them you cherish them.

And One is the Jesus that still amazes me everyday of my life. I do not know how I’d make it through life’s journey without Him and His Word reminding me of His love for me everyday.

Oh, I hope not to stay away so long next time! Summer is here and we really don’t have major travel plans, but maybe things will slow down enough for me to blawg and catch up on some of you!

Monday, May 16, 2011

I have a friend who has 2 daughters. When they both turned 12 or 13 they started doing ALL of their own laundry! She told me that she even very rarely moves laundry from the washer to the dryer for them, but reminds them that if they want something specific to wear, etc. then it is THEIR job to get it done!

I guess I have a few questions about this whole chores, allowance, and what all people do with their kids! I know it has a lot to do with how we are raised and how our parents taught us,,. I mean, I can hear it now… “I HAD TO CLEAN THE BATHROOMS EVERY SATURDAY AND YOU WILL TOO!”

But how do you decide when and which chores? Do you do an allowance? How do you decide what to give and how often?

At our house our 9 (almost 10 year old) makes her bed, puts her dirty clothes in her laundry basket, helps clean off the kitchen table and picks up her things to put them away. She does most of these everyday and I do not give her an allowance. I feel like she needs to learn to be responsible for her things and that her help is more or less what our family does together. (i.e. having our meal and cleaning up)

This past weekend we worked in the yard. The poor kid tried EVERY friend within a mile radius to see if they could play. No one was home. (Poor little lip hung down so low! So disappointed!) Her dad and I gave her some chores to do so that she could participate with us and not just be sitting in the house watching cartoons all day.

When it was all said and done she helped me rinse off some pavers, dragged bags of tree clippings from the back to the front yard and helped “wash” the house. (Well, she had some water and a brush. Not sure how much washing was actually taking place!)

After we finished we were exhausted and my husband decided to run to Chic-fil-a to get our supper, and as a reward, he bought her an ice cream.

SO! My question is… how you do handle such things? Saturday’s yard work was above and beyond what we normally ask of her. Would you have given her an allowance, or was the ice cream “reward” enough?

Growing up we never really got an allowance on a regular basis. I do not really know how people keep up with what kids earn and how they earn it. And in our situation,the grandparents are usually really good about giving little monetary gifts at report card time, holidays and birthdays so she has extra spending money. She is usually not hurting for funds… if you catch my drift!

My husband and I are not at odds over this or anything… as a matter of fact we have not discussed it much. I just wondered how other folk live! Can you help a sista out??

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Well, it’s raining. I am happy about it because our weeds yard needs the rain, but my plan WAS to work on said weeds yard and hopefully help it out a little. Oh well! Maybe later… what else could I do? OH! I know! Let’s write a blawg entry! Never mind the laundry, dusting and 457,890,321 other things I need to be doing! I HAVE PRIORITIES!!

So last week was Mother’s Day and with family out of town it is always a trick to figure out who we will see and when. Because of the whole “ON THE DAY” thing in my family it can sometimes get tricky! We figured it out, none the less, and here are a few family shots!

Note how not ONE mother had her picture taken and who is the random person in red up there? Anyway, a fun time was had by all and it may just have been the best Mother’s Day EVER!

The main reason for such greatness was that we kept it simple. We had a cookout with my sweet man’s family and the kids just played and played. We met my family for lunch after church and just hung out a little.

For Mother’s Day my husband agreed to help get the nasty shutters off of the house…(note the random shades of fadedness that once graced the front of the Guinn Inn! Oh, so lovely.. and classy, too!)

… and we bought new ones! I AM SO EXCITEDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!! We are using black instead of green (or whatever that lovely color is!) and louvered instead of flat shutters! I can’t wait to get everything cleaned and the new ones up!

Before we throw the old ones out I just may snag a few faded ones, group them together and hang them as a shabby backdrop on our deck! My husband is asking,”How come they were TERRIBLE on the front of the house but suddenly artwork on the back!?!?” Hee hee! Let’s see what happens!

I also went on a little shopping trip with my sister-in-law last week and found some good finds!

We hit the Habitat for Humanity store where I scored these silver Oneida trays:

The big one was $6 and the small one was $4!! My SIL gave me the one lying down to help balance out the tray number … I LOVE THEM.. now, where to put them?? I have a few ideas!

I also found this beige candlestick that has the colors of my house painted on it and it is really shabby… My SIL had the brown one so I am going to work on a place for those too!

THEN.. I needed tables and my SIL wanted to get rid of some so…

I am trying this one out in my den!

And this one needs some TLC, but it will go on my porch!

I am eager to get some plants and maybe an outdoor rug to bring the look together! It’s all looking a little bland right now, but after I finish blawgin’ (remember! priorities!) I am going to get to work! Once things are together… ok, once I change things because I NEVER feel like I am completely done, I will show you and see what you think! I’d love your help!

It looks like the rain may have stopped. Guess I need to get busy! You have a good weekend!

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

In the last post I shared about how God is really beginning a work m me that I’ve never experienced before. I am NOT KIDDING when I say… LIKE NEVER BEFORE!

The title of this old blawg is “Higher Call” and so many times I have been tempted to change it to something more whimsical and cute. Here’s the thing… while God gives US the ability to be whimsical and cute… and I am so glad HE DOES! I am pretty sure that HE is not all whimsical and cute.. if you catch my drift. I mean… the UGLY truth is that He is down to some serious business in this sin-filled world! I love that He is AMAZINGLY creative and has a sense of humor… BOY does HE!? But at the same time there are some hurting and lost people out there that He is desperately trying to reach.

Just in the past few weeks in my own experience with people I have spoken with several teenaged unwed mothers, a woman whose husband has abused her for years and is living in an EXTREMELY difficult situation and a girl who is addicted to drugs. There have been life threatening situations where families have cried out to the Father in anguish for Him to intervene. I am talking LIFE ALTERING and deeply disturbing situations that are just plain NOT PRETTY! And those are just the people that I have talked to!! Imagine how many lives there are that are just hopeless and hurting due to sin and bad choices and illness and addiction and crime and shame and guilt and just plain hurt! It is really TOO much for any of us to handle and yet… if we are followers of Christ we are called to GO! Make disciples and be obedient! But how!?!? It’s too big!

I started asking God WHY!? Why would He bring these people into my life? I have NEVER been where they are and I do not know how to minister to them. I can pray. I can listen. I can give them scripture. That’s it! I, personally, have NOTHING for them.

His answer? “Exactly!”

HUH!? Oh, I was so confused. Until it hit me like a ton of bricks falling from a 40 story building!

ALL I HAVE IS HIM TO GIVE THEM AND THAT IS ALL THEY NEED!!!!!!!!

OHHHHHHHHHHH!

The ugly truth is that there IS a Higher Call on my life and I have been too afraid to step out there and see what it was until now. The ugly part is my fear of stepping out, by the way, and not His call.

Ok, so here’s the cool part. I am sensing that because I am whimsical and like fun things and enjoy being with people that He is going to allow me (THIS IS SOO COOL and SOOO GOD!) to use what I have (and it ain’t much, trust me) to use it in the lives of these people. How!?! Well, that’s the part He hasn’t shared with me yet, but I sense that His plan is unfolding.

You know… this little girl?

Well, she’s mine. And I am telling you that the growth that is taking place in her right now is blowing me away, BUT there was a time that I was completely overwhelmed by her delays. She has some struggles that I have shared about in the past and let me tell you… Time spent on our knees has been vital!!

But we weren’t the only ones praying. God put faithful friends who love Him into our lives who committed to believe and pray for us. He has put family into our lives that have supported us and loved us through every step of the road that we’ve taken. He has provided health care and therapy workers (who love Him!) that came up with plans to help us with her. I mean GOD provided!!

It is still a battle, but it’s getting a little easier. He is at work and He is growing her like we asked Him to! He answers! He hears!! So… that is what I am suppose to give back! That is His plan!! Give the hope and love and support that I have come to know.

Ok, this is plenty long. If you are still reading by now.. God bless your baby heart! I guess I am just really excited and can’t wait to see the rest of the plan unfold.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

God is working in me anew. It is something to celebrate. It is something to stand in awe of. It is something that I long for with my whole being. I want to be a woman after God’s own heart! I want to honor Him.

I am seeing that, though I asked Jesus into my heart at 10 years old, I have more to learn about being a Christ follower than I can wrap my bleach blonde head around. I have so much to learn about love… sacrifice… honesty. I have so much to learn about truth and laying down my own agenda for the wonderful plans that He has. I want to be obedient and eager to learn from His very alive and active Word! I want to dwell in His tabernacle and know His voice so that I do not miss a word when He speaks.

So much of my walk has been about me. As I look back through my life I see that I have been extremely self-centered and have come to God on MY terms more times than I’d like to admit. Slowly He is chipping away at me and helping me to see that my best laid plans are so trivial and worthless. Only HIS ways have lasting impact and are God honoring. It is hard to admit, but now that I am beginning to see how others might view those of us who claim to be Christians, I have definitely been a hypocrite… pretending to have things ALL figured out and acting as if I am some super Christian.. oh! Just thinking about it makes me sick. Let’s just say that a humbling process is taking place through the people that He is bringing into my life. They are showing me what REAL life is about and how only HIS grace is sufficient. I have NO answers and can NOT be prideful as if I have all the answers. I CLEARLY and PLAINLY do not!!

Several months ago my daughter was riding in the backseat of the car looking through my well worn and written in Bible. She said, “Wow! Mom! Look at this!” She kept turning and came to some places without writing. She said, “Umm, mom? Why is it that some pages have writing and some don’t?” I said, “Well, I have taken notes where I have heard a sermon or done a Bible study or written a prayer for you!” She quickly replied, “Well, these pages with NO writing? I guess you have to study those! You need to get busy!”

Oh, how right she is!

I realized that I have never done a real in depth study of David’s life- the VERY man that had a heart after God’s own heart. Yes, I grew up in Sunday school so I have read about David and Goliath, Bathsheeba and Jonathan, his friend, but I have never really studied the books of 1st and 2nd Samuel. The opportunity recently presented itself at our church and so I dove in! Wow! I am already being challenged to look at myself differently and see the Lord as The God of Kings! I pray that I have a true heart transplant over the next several weeks! I pray that God will do a work in me like He has never, ever done and that my walk with Him becomes more about Him than me.

This old girl is not ashamed to admit that there is a new spot inside my heart that I have never sensed before. It’s an open spot that is ready to be filled with God’s agenda. I am protecting this spot. It can not be filled with anything that is of me. I want it to be filled to over flowing so that it consumes my ENTIRE heart with EXACTLY what God wants for me. I can not wait to see what He reveals!

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Well, I am pretty late with my Happy Easter wishes, but here’s the good news! JESUS IS STILL ALIVE! On the way to church this past Sunday our little girly asked us,”So Jesus was alive LAST week at Easter! Is He STILL alive THIS week!?” Oh, PRAISE HIM! Yes! He is alive and at work even today!

We had a whirlwind of an Easter and Spring Break traveling to see family all over the south east! It was a lot of fun, but very tiring, as we shopped with Mimi, made birthday cakes, ate dinner out and played in South Carolina!

The OH SO YUMMY Key Lime Pound Cake!

We made a quick trip back to North Carolina, repacked and joined up with my husband’s parents to make the 6 hour trip to Alabama for a wedding and Easter!

First the wedding…

…

Everything was so pretty and we enjoyed seeing my husband’s cousin tie the knot!

I never got a good shot of the bride and groom but here they come in their red convertible!

Such a beautiful day and my girl was loving time with her Paw Paw and daddy!

My sweet little niece loved the flowers at the reception which was held in a floral shop!

Our cousin’s little girl was a flower girl and look at how precious she was!

The next day was Easter and we were so excited to attend The Church at Brook Hills there in Alabama. It is a wonderful church pastored by Dr. David Platt. It was such an honor to celebrate our Savior with brothers and sisters in Christ that we’ve never even met! We saw wonderful baptisms and heard wonderful testimonies of the changing power of our Lord and Savior. It was just a wonderful day of worship!

After church we needed to head home, but knew that we’d better spend a few minutes with family since we don’t get to see them very often. My husband’s aunt had a brunch for all of us… and an EGG HUNT!

Girlfriend found the first one and instead of continuing to look… it was ALL about the candy!

Our niece and cousins were hard at work with all of their treasures too!

We finally made the long trek back to North Carolina! It was such a fun time catching up with family and spending time worshipping our Lord and Savior! We loved every minute of it!

Friday, April 15, 2011

Why is it that it seems to be all kinds of quiet for months and THEN EVERYBODY I KNOW gets together to plan major events in their lives?? AND they invite me to come! AND I want to go!!

1)It is spring break. YAY! THANK YOU JESUS! PRAISE THE LORD! HALLELUJAH THINE THE GLORY! I am a little happy.

2)At the end of spring break is Easter and I love Easter. I love time with both families and going to church and just celebrating our Savior’s death and resurrection. It is just a special time and my parents get really excited because we try to see them and my husband’s family in the same weekend.

3) At the end of spring break is ALSO my mama’s birthday. Now, you need to understand. This woman is ALL about seeing you “ON THE DAY.” That’s what she calls it. “I need to see you ON THE DAY.” Meaning that if your birthday is on Wednesday and you happen to live 2 hours from her she will take the day off of work and make a little 2 hour journey just so she can hug your neck and give you all manner of gifts. Could she wait until the weekend. Welllllll.. she COULD, but it would not be without much angst.

You can imagine what it means for US not to see HER on “THE DAY” when it’s her “DAY.” You with me?

4) About a month ago we got a beautifully addressed (in wonderful calligraphy) envelope in the mail. It was from my husband’s cousin who we NEVER see. He lives in Alabama and we… don’t. We live 6 hours from Alabama.

HE’S GETTING MARRIED! YAY! He’s getting married!

Me- Really!? WHEN?

My husband- Easter weekend!

Me- Easter weekend?

(sigh)

My husband- Yes! And we are going, right? I mean he came to our wedding and supported us! It’s only right that we go and support him!

5)I called mom. I had to make a deal. WHAT IF… we went to see THEM for most of spring break and celebrated her birthday while we were there, came home (the day before THE DAY mind you) in time to get things ready to leave the next day and drive 6 hours?!? By cracky! It just might work!

Fortunately we worked it all out, but it was a little hairy there for a second. I would be so great if all of these people would check with each other before they scheduled life changing (or altering according to my mom) events!

Thursday, April 14, 2011

When you begin to try really hard to eat right and work out every other day WHEN does the fat start to go away? Anyone?

Oh, I guess it takes longer than 2 weeks and I guess after you work out, get sore, work THAT out, go back and get more exercise of some sort, try to eat right and THEN eat cookies, drink sweet tea, and have a crescent roll with butter on it (that was heavenly!) it kind of cancels it all out so you are right back where you started.

Am I right? Was that the longest sentence ever?

I don’t need to get rid of 5lbs. either. I need to get rid of like 50! It is so easy to get discouraged when you’ve TRIED so HARD! Yeah. Whatever.

I really am trying to… TRY. I guess my clothes have felt a little smidge better than they did before I started this rigorous exercise and diet plan.

Ok, honestly here’s what I’ve done. I have tried to eat better. Like oatmeal for breakfast (filling and I like it) something other than a sandwich (bread) and no chips, etc. for lunch and then something sensible for dinner. And I’ve tried to drink more water. My problem is that by dinner time I am ready to eat MY HOUSE so I tend to clean my plate AND want dessert! Not that I am eating junk for dinner, but I want ALL that’s coming to me! Not really controlling my portions all the time.

I have also been trying to work out at least 3 times a week. I have done a toning class, been to the weight room where I ran/walked on the treadmill or elliptical and lifted weights and I have tried to run/walk outside.

The motivation for all of this?

Yes, the dreaded photo! This is just one of several that have been taken of me recently. My friend took this at a shower and when I saw it all I saw were my 2 chins (among my other 2 things!) and thought HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?!?! Something MUST be done!

Now, do not get me wrong. I am not down on myself. I am not super confident in my looks, but I am not lying on the sofa in a state of depression either. I am just tired of being the one that you’d describe to your husband, who has never met me, as “You know… she’s a little chubby and has curly hair (with bad roots! She could use a color job!)??”

The other thing? I am 41 and I have a 9 year old. I am not the youngest mom on the block and I have a ways to go to help this kid grow into who she needs to be. I do not want my health to start declining before it has to because I could not control how many brownies I ate! Sometimes when you have outside motivation it helps you try harder and stick to it.

ANYWAY! The journey has begun. I have not done as good today as I have in days previous. I didn’t exercise, I woke up late so I didn’t pack my lunch for work and I didn’t drink as much water. The good news!? Tomorrow is a NEW DAY! I can wake up ready to go and keep truckin’ one day at a time!

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

You ever have one of those days when you aren’t sad, but you aren’t especially yourself either? That is me today.

I have had the entire day to myself. The Lord woke me up SUPER early (like 5:30! Hello! I didn’t know that was on the clock!) and I had a sweet time of reading His Word and praying.

Then little girlfriend wanted to be a little PILL this morning so that caused a little ripple, but we survived. She is usually fond of mornings, but only if she can do what SHE wants to do. You know..play with the cat, watch cartoons, read a book of her choosing, lay around and ask a million questions while we try to get ourselves ready for the day (THIS drives me INSANE! DO NOT TALK TO ME IN THE MORNING! Please.). Anyway, we made it so that was fine.

Usually when I drop her off at school I am on GO! Clean the house, grocery shop, do laundry, run errands, make appointments, take the car to be serviced… it’s always something. I have 2 days off so I usually try to make the most of my time alone, but there’s usually one thing that is missing… Even though I am alone I am not usually listening to the Lord. I am usually crowding Him out with all that I need to do and thinking about what’s next and moving to the next thing.

Today.. I wasn’t feelin’ it. The busy part I mean… I wasn’t on GO! It was like God was speaking to my spirit and telling me that He woke me up for a reason and He wanted me to listen today.

I moseyed myself back home after dropping girlfriend and her attitude at school. I came in the house and sat back down with my Bible for a little while. I did a load of laundry then sat back down… came to check e-mails and talked to a friend. I’ve done other things, but nothing like my usual break neck speed to get things done. My in-laws even got girly from school for me so I have had extended time alone.

I don’t really feel like I have accomplished a lot, but I do feel like I have had some sweet fellowship with the Lord today. I have been quiet. I have prayed for some friends who are going through some very difficult times. I have journaled. I have listened. No T.V. or radio. Just me and God.

Do you ever have days like that? Do you feel that it is time wasted and regret not cleaning that toilet or doing that list of things that are looming or do you find rest in that day and find it a gift from God? I am trying to find it as the latter.

In this world that is so fast and so full of constant communication and drive it is sometimes hard to find quiet days as productive days. But God’s Word tells us to “Come, all ye who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.”Matthew 11:28. I mentioned some friends who are going through difficult times, and it has burdened my heart so much that I’ve hardly thought of anything else. This time of prayer has been so good for me (and I pray they have felt it) as I have come to ask God to take it and work!

I also know that Gods’ Word says in Proverbs 31:27 that the Proverbs 31 woman “Watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.” I do not want to get into the habit of so enjoying these days that I don’t do what is necessary to help my home be what it needs to be for my family.

Oh, I don’t know. I was just wondering if those quiet days for you are just HO HUM! Or if they are HALLELUJAH!?

I love that my dad plays the banjo and sings. I love that he cares about people and he never meets a stranger. I love that he’s never afraid to take a stand for what is right and I love that he loves Jesus! I love that he tears up when he walks into a sanctuary just because he can sense the presence of the Lord. I love that he can sing barbershop and that he knows so much about everything! I love that he’s creative and that he can build things with his hands.

I love that my mom is funny and fun and she’s stylish. She likes to dress up and look good and be girly! I love that she doesn’t think that anyone is better than anyone else, but that we are all the same so we need to respect that. I love that she loves to shop and that she wants the best for us all. I love that she prays for us and that she is always trying to help when there’s a need. I love that she is happy and that she doesn’t really ever complain. She’s just glad to be here and is ready to encourage us at anytime! I love that she’s pretty and that she has a good heart. I love that she loves Jesus!

Yesterday they went on a date to celebrate. I love that.

They went to a nice restaurant and while they were there mom gave dad a new wedding band. He lost his and mom wanted him to have one so she worked overtime to get it for him. Is that not the sweetest thing ever?

They went to a movie and they always hold hands. Dad’s legs are not good and mom helps him all she can.

Through out my life they have not been perfect parents. There have been times that we have been at odds with each other and they have certainly had their times that have not been easy, I am eternally grateful that they have stayed together and set the example for me and my family.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MOM AND DAD! I could not be more proud of you and the legacy that you are building for our family! Thank you for always being there and for never giving up on each other! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!

Friday, April 8, 2011

Sometimes I want to write an entry just to write an entry. It’s not that really anything exciting is going on, but LOTS of things are happening and sometimes I just don’t feel like I can share.. which keeps me from writing entries. Ya know? Are you VERY corn-fused now?

SO! Today is going to be just all over the place. Hang with me? Thanks.

Here’s what I mean about the “don’t feel like you can share” thing.. You ever go through times where you just feel like God is speaking (like STANDING ON YOUR FACE speaking so you know it’s STRAIGHT from Him?) but you can’t really tell anyone what He’s saying yet? That’s where I am this week. God is at work and He is bringing a new challenge my way, but it’s not time to say it out loud. If you know me… that’s HARD! I am a blabber mouth. Anyway, when God gives me the go ahead I am going to shout it from the roof tops, but right now it has to stay between me and Him. Lots of things that He needs to make clear before I can even understand it myself so I am WAITING. Be quiet and wait.. yeah, NEITHER are my strongest qualities. Guess He’s working in more ways that one! Ya think?

Don’t you LOVE God? He is so amazingly personal and keeps us on our toes. Whoever said that being a follower of Christ was boring must be stuck in a hole somewhere. It’s the biggest adventure of my life and I am FULLY aware that I am completely not equipped to do what He asks of me!! I have to be on my face everyday because… REALLY GOD?

This has been busy few weeks with a fun and sweet wedding to attend, a sweet shower for my friend’s niece and then family came into town for a night. All of that on top of normal school, work and church responsibilities PLUS a day of Occupational Therapy for my little girlfriend, and a night meeting at church thrown in makes for an exhausted Friday. That makes me tired just reading it. I am so happy to be at home tonight and just have tacos. You know.. it’s the simple things, isn’t it?

I am really excited that our little girly girlfriend is growing so much. Everyone that works with her has commented on the progress that they are seeing. Occupational Therapy, Speech, Regular Ed. and Special Ed. folks have all said that they are very encouraged by the maturity and growth that they are seeing and that makes this mama of a kid with some special needs smile from ear to ear!! Another thing that has helped me gain some real perspective? I visited a school that is just for severe and profoundly handicapped children. THAT, my friend, will make you say, “Yes, my kid struggles with some stuff, but she can sit up and swallow and eat solid food and walk and talk and not wear a diaper… all at 9 years old.” Oh, my heart just went out to those parents as I thought about what we deal with on a daily basis and how it does NOT compare to what they must deal with.

Again, God at work …on my self-centered self. Just a little reminder that He’s in control is all.

Well, I hope YOU are doing well! Hopefully the next entry will be full of news that I can share!

Monday, March 28, 2011

We just had such an amazing weekend with some really mature and wonderful kids! I am always excited when Disciple Now Weekend comes because we get to hang out with kids who are seeking the Lord! Oh, how I wish I were so mature and focused on God when I was their age!

We hosted 11th and 12th grade girls at our house this year and MAN did we get a great group!?! I am always a little on guard about who will be grouped together and how the dynamics will work.. you know how kids can be! This year the girls were all very eager to share and include one another. It was really awesome!

My husband had to work some so I did not get to attend the worship services and hear all of the amazing speakers, etc, since I had to be home with little girlfriend. The kids said that it was awesome and the theme was “Reverse”. I heard and saw things about dying to self and taking up your cross to live for Christ. It definitely hit home with the girls and God’s Word is always able to make us think about how we live… no matter WHO we are or how old we might be… uh humm. Let’s just say you didn’t have to attend the services to get the point!!

I did get to spend some time with the girls at lunch on Saturday and after lunch we did a service project for the unwed mother’s home.

I mentioned in an earlier post about how our Sunday school class has been taking meals to unwed teen mothers, and we have desperately tried to get God’s Word into their hands. We can’t always afford to buy Bibles for the girls as there is a high turnover rate, but we don’t want cost to stop us. We started making scripture cards to give to the girls so that they could hear God’s promises and have hope! The cards are great, but they are labor intensive so we got the girls to each write 12 scripture cards a piece… one for each month.. and we put them together in little groups to take to the girls…

It was so awesome to hear the girls saying the scriptures out loud and finding new scriptures that might minister to the teens who are not SO different from themselves.

Afterwards we had a sweet time of prayer where the girls prayed that the cards might mean something so powerful and life changing to the ones that receive it. It was neat to see their determination to make the cards special and to be willing to pray for people that they don’t know.

Afterwards the girls had a devotional time and then dinner where we talked about setting a table. I got out the good china and glasses and our little spaghetti dinner became a fun time of talking and dreaming about their own homes one day. I was so busy that I forgot to take pictures, but it was a fun time!

After it was all said and done we were tired, but who CARES? Time spent with great kids and God’s Word and laughter and growth and encouragement?!? We’d take that any day! Heck.. we can take a nap later! It was a terrific time of growing in the Lord and in friendships!

Saturday, March 26, 2011

I remember having said “easy bake” when I was a kid, and so I thought it would be a fun gift for the little chicky!

We got it out of the box.. and immediately had a curious visitor…

Then we emptied the brownie mix into a little bowl and little miss did the stirring….

It was rumored that someone licked the spoon, but was stricken down by adamant denial… YOU be the judge.

“Did you lick the spoon and put it back into the batter?”

“No!”

“Oh, really!? Can I take a picture?”

“MOM! I DIDN’T eat it!”

I think we need a few more lessons in stretching the truth.. don’t you?

Then we poured the batter into the little baking tin and we pushed it into the “oven” (a.k.a. light bulb holder that is suppose to cook food) and we WAITED, and WAITED and WAITED. The instructions say to cook for 8 minutes.. Well, that ain’t the case sister!

Girlfriend got so tired of waiting that she went and read a book and GUESS who was stuck waiting for the stuff to cook only to tell her that she could not eat her creation because it was WAY too hot! Let’s just say… “Easy Bake” might need a new name!

About Me

I am honored to be the wife of the sweetest man on earth and mom to one spunky little mess of a girlfriend! I enjoy Bible study that challenges me, decorating that stretches me to be creative and frugal, and friendships that push me closer to the feet of Jesus. I like jeans that fit and laughing 'til I cry. I like to dance, be silly and cookies. I have a heart for those with special needs and believe that the Lord uses them to teach me how to be more like Him. I love to sing and be spontaneous. I'm just me! Welcome to my blog!!